"Thank you. I'm so pleased you enjoyed the shows," responded Shona as she reached out her hand and gently shook Rory's. "I was quite surprised to hear that you'd be attending tonight's performance as well. I hope you aren't too bored of "Brigadoon" at this point."

Although she'd only just been introduced to him, Shona felt unsteady on her feet and quite flushed. There was something about this man that exuded an intriguing sensuality Shona hadn't experienced in a very long time, if ever.

"Oh, that wouldn't be possible, Shona. Getting tired of "Brigadoon" isn't something that is within my power." Rory was certainly impressed with the play and Shona's acting abilities, but it was her beauty and radiant personality that had captured his heart.

Shona looked into Victoria's pale blue eyes and noted that they were glistening with a duo of tears. She gave her a quizzical look and said, "yes I do have to meet the mayor and a number of the other guests. Actually, I was on my way to the ladies room when I saw the two of you standing here. I'd better get in there before it fills up."

Brushing a stray tress of raven colored hair from her eyes, Victoria chimed in, "that's a good idea, Shona. In fact, I've been meaning to visit the room as well. I'll join you. Rory, I'll be back in a few minutes."

"Of course, Victoria," responded Rory while continuing to try and compose himself; a feat he found nearly impossible to perform while in the company of Shona MacKenzie.

"I certainly could stand it, Shona, but won't be able to fit it into my schedule. In fact, I'm leaving town on Sunday and have a great deal of work to do before then. I'll finish up on Friday evening and then spend Saturday exploring some of the wonderful sights of this area. I'd like to drive out to Peggy's Cove and a few other places.

While describing his schedule, Rory imagined being locked in a passionate embrace of mythical proportions with Shona. They would bestanding on the windswept shores of The Bay of Fundy while the tides, crashing against the land, failed to replicate the waves of desire flowing through their entwined bodies. Rory would finally realize the fulfillment of his dreams and...

"Rory, hey guy, I knew I'd find you with two of the most beautiful women in the room," exclaimed Peter Sinclair as he strode up behind Rory and clapped him on the back. Gently pushing him aside, he sidled up to Shona and grazed her cheek with a kiss. "Shona, you were fantastic tonight," said Sinclair.

"Peter! It is wonderful to see you again. Gosh, how long has it been? Three months, maybe more, and weren't you supposed to bring your dog, Duchess, in for a check-up a few days ago? Now, Peter, it is time for her shots, so you'd better heed my words and..."

"I'm so sorry to hear the news, Peter," said Shona with sincere concern in her voice. "Yes, of course, I will put up a notice. She is such a beautiful Collie and I'm sure someone will find her. Is she wearing a license?"

"Thank you, Shona. No, I was going to get one, but didn't get around to it. She is wearing a collar, but all it reads is "Duchess."

Sinclair shook his head at least twice and then turned towards Victoria. "Good evening, my dear. My God, you look incredible!" Vicky, you always look terrific, on the job, but, well, all I can say is, you are outstanding tonight," said Sinclair.

"Thank you, Peter," stammered Victoria. She stole a quick glance at Rory, hoping that he'd be impressed with Sinclair's comments and join in with the praise. Munro, however, was completely enamored with Shona and was obviously only slightly aware of Peter and Vicky's presence. "I'm sorry to hear about Duchess. Hopefully she'll find her way back home, soon."

"Oh, I think Rory is well equipped to take care of himself, " answered Victoria as she felt the heat of her cheeks rise to an uncomfortable level. "He was kind enough to accompany me to the theater this evening. He is a true gentleman, Peter."

"Yes, that he is, Vicky," replied Sinclair, while wondering exactly how much of a gentleman Rory was going to be later in the evening.

"Victoria, we'd better head off to the ladies room or we'll be standing in line all night," said Shona, taking her friend by the arm. "Take care, Peter, and please let me know as soon as Duchess returns home. I'll want to give her a full check-up. It was nice meeting you, Rory. Bye for now."

A barely discernible sigh escaped from Rory's lips. "Thank you, Shona. It was entirely my pleasure."

"Goodbye, Peter. Rory, I'll be back in a few minutes," said Victoria.

Sinclair and Munro watched the women as they made their way to the ladies room. "Wow," said Peter. "Shona looks terrific, but, my boy, you are in for quite a night. Vicky looks like she was poured into that dress. I hope this doesn't this bother you, but I'd like to pour her out of it."

"No, don't worry about it, Pete. Victoria does look terrific, but Shona, well, she is... the lady is quite simply the most beautiful woman I've ever seen. She just sparkles and that voice sounds like liquid honey. Everything about her makes me... well, I don't want to bore you. So, where is your wife? Didn't she come with you?"

"She isn't feeling well, Rory, but to tell you the truth, I'm just as glad that she didn't make it. We are having a hard time and I think we are going to get a divorce. Her needs are completely different from mine and we just don't seem to be able to get along at all. In fact, we haven't in years."

"Not tonight, Rory. Oh, I'll have a drink with you, but would rather talk about Vicky. Man, she just oozes something that I'd like to spend some time getting to know. God, listen to me! She's your date and I'm going on like some kind of super testosterone-charged stud. Sorry about that."

"No, Pete, don't worry about it," said Rory as he and Sinclair began heading towards the bar. "I do like her, but, um, how well do you know Shona? I'd really like to spend some time with her."

"Rory, I know her and I know you. Trust me, boy, you are smitten and I'm pretty sure she's taken with you as well. As for me, I'd love to enjoy some quality time with Vicky. Come on, let's get a couple of drinks. Maybe they'll cool us off."

Shona looked into the bathroom mirror and began to re-gloss her lips with the barest hint of rose. "How are you and Rory getting along, Vicky?"

"Oh, he isn't what I thought he'd turn out to be, Shona," answered Victoria with as much conviction as she could summon up. "I like him, but he isn't very attentive." Victoria hated lying to her friend, but she had to find some way of dulling Rory's luster in Shona's eyes.

"I'm sorry to hear that, Vicky. He seems like an extremely charming man. I'm usually very accurate with first impressions. I guess I'm wrong, this time." Shona was quite certain that she'd sized up Rory very well, but didn't want to argue the point with Vicky. "So, I suppose that your evening isn't going to end up exactly like you planned. That's a shame, Victoria."

"Yes," said Victoria, dabbing at a tiny run of mascara that had been deposited just below her right eye. Her supposedly waterproof make-up hadn't done the job. "Hopefully, we'll enjoy the next hour or two, but I know this won't be an evening to remember."

"Well, I certainly know how you feel, Vicky. I've had a few dates, since my divorce, but none of them have worked out. Hopefully, in time, my friend, two gentleman will enter our lives and guide us through the mists surrounding Brigadoon," said Shona.

"Thank you, Shona, but Brigadoon is turning out to be nothing more than just a cute fantasy," said Victoria, unconvinced that her friend wasn't interested in pursuing Rory. "We'd best get back to the party. I don't think Rory and I will stay much longer, but I hope you'll enjoy the rest of the evening. It'll be a long one for you."

"Yes, it will be, Vicky and I've got a very full schedule tomorrow. Cathy will be taking care of patients, in the morning, but I'll have to handle the evening hours. I'd love to take the night off since there won't be a show on Wednesday, but duty calls. Okay, let's go."

Victoria slung her purse over her shoulder and headed for the door. Outside of the ladies room, she turned to Shona and said, "take care. I'll give you a call in a few days." Bidding good bye with a wave of her hand, she began walking back towards where Rory and Peter were continuing their conversation. "Please, please, please, " begged Victoria, under her breath, "find someone else, anyone but Rory, Shona."

Peter Sinclair glanced towards the back of the room. "Hey, here comes Vicky. My God, just look at her! What a walk! She moves like molten lava, Rory, outright molten lava. Man, I'd sure like to get to know her better."

"Not at all, Vicky," responded Sinclair with a mischievous wink. Peter's eyes, once again, unabashedly traveled down the full vista of Victoria's body. He found himself imagining how she'd feel, wrapped in his arms with her luscious lips pressed firmly against his.

"Vicky, I've got to leave in a few minutes, but how about giving my old legs a tour around the dance floor?" asked Peter in a gently pleading manner. "Rory, you don't mind, do you?"

"Well, no, Pete, not if Victoria doesn't."

Vicky made an instant decision to accept Sinclair's offer. Perhaps watching her dance in what promised to be a mildly seductive demonstration would convince Rory to renew his interest in her. "Certainly, Peter, I'd love to."

"All right, my dear," said Peter. "Rory, we'll be back shortly. Come on, Vicky, let's go."

Rory watched as Sinclair took Victoria's hand in his and moved to the center of the room. The orchestra began playing a tantalizing version of "Come To Me, Bend To Me." Munro's eyes turned away and scanned the room for Shona MacKenzie. Within a moment, he had located her. Rory glanced once more at Victoria and Peter. Sinclair was holding her as close as socially acceptable. Munro turned and headed towards Shona.

Peter's right arm was wrapped around Victoria's waist and he felt the cool silken touch of the dress that hugged each of her delectable curves. Vicky's head was pressed firmly against Sinclair's shoulder. Her eyes were dappled with tears and glued to the back of Rory's head as she watched him walk up to Shona.

Victoria took a deep breath and wiped the dew from her eyes. She once again rested her head against Sinclair's shoulder and said, "that will be fine, Pete. I'll look forward to it." Sinclair's arm drew ever closer around her waist. Vicky sighed and returned to her silent vigil just in time to see Shona break into a much too glowing smile.

"Rory, Hi! It is great to see you again. Um, where is Victoria?" asked Shona as she momentarily tried to turn her eyes away from Munro and look for her friend.

"She left me for another man," kidded Rory. "Actually, Victoria is dancing with Peter. Since I was on my own, I decided to try and locate you. I don't know anyone else, so..."

"Oh, well I'm very glad you found me, Rory." She prayed that Munro wouldn't hear the pounding of her heart. It felt like a thousand drums beating out a crescendo of emotions inside of her chest. "I was just about to look for the President of the city council, but would much rather spend a moment with you." Shona bit her lip and silently cursed herself for sounding so brazen.

Rory's struggled to quell his rapidly increasing need to take Shona into his arms and spirit her off into the all-encompassing realm of his love. Miraculously, he grabbed an iota of control and stammered, "thank you, Shona. That's very kind of you. You must have had a very exhausting day. Juggling a career and performing in theater must be quite a feat. Do you ever get to spend an evening out on the town, or take a drive down the coast?" Rory held his breath and waited for his opportunity to arrive.

Rory sensed the time was right to turn his dreams into reality. "Oh, then perhaps you'd like to..."

Suddenly, a deeply masculine voice burst into Munro's ears. "Rory, I've got to be going," said Peter Sinclair. "Vicky and I have finished a dance to remember and its time for me to head out the door." Rory spun around and came face to face with Sinclair and Victoria. Pete was beaming from ear to ear. Victoria's eyes were downcast and her hands were tightly clenched.

Sinclair bid a cheery good night to Shona and Rory. He then unclasped one of Victoria's hands and brushed his lips over the back of it. "I'll see you on Monday, Vicky." With a wave of his hand, Sinclair turned and headed for the exit.

A cloud of excruciating discomfort enveloped the trio. Finally, after an agonizingly extended pause, Shona took a deep breath and said, "it has been great talking with you Rory. Thanks for stopping by. Vicky, enjoy the rest of the party. I'll give you a call in a few days. Let's get together for lunch, my friend. Well, I'd best go and say hello to the other guests." Shona gave Victoria and Rory a nervous smile and then walked off.

There would be a few more dances, during the next hour, but every time Rory caught a glimpse of Shona, he would pull, ever so slightly, away from Victoria. By the end of the evening, Victoria knew that her chances of experiencing a heated tryst with Rory would probably never be realized.

Standing in the bone chilling night air, Rory hailed a taxi for Victoria, thanked her for a wonderful evening, and began walking back to the hotel. Vicky sat in the darkness of the cab and allowed a well of tears to fall from her eyes.

As she was driven through the quiet streets of Halifax, Vicky felt a dagger of loss unparalleled in the denizens of her memory. She knew it wasn't right to blame Shona for her defeat, but the mission was doomed to failure. Shona MacKenzie had always seemed to have everything and now she was also about to have Rory.

Finally, she walked into her apartment, threw her purse onto a chair and prepared to get ready for bed. Within a few minutes, she had stripped off her clothes and removed her make-up. Victoria returned to her bedroom, donned a black satin chemise and then slipped beneath the silk sheets, covering her bed. She reached for a glass of water, swallowed a sleeping pill and closed her eyes. It was a wasted effort, however, as nothing would help Vicky lapse into unconsciousness during the night.

Peter Sinclair was wide-awake. He'd arrived home an hour before, bid his wife a cursory good night and retired to his own bedroom. For the past 2 months, the couple had been sleeping in separate rooms. Peter now realized that the only possible conclusion to their marital disaster was for Peter to initiate divorce proceedings. On Wednesday morning, Sinclair intended on doing just that.

Thoughts of the impending legal battle wasn't the only issue keeping Peter awake. The vision of Victoria, dressed in far less than she had been attired in at the party, was providing the main stimulus for Sinclair's lack of sleep.

Two hours later, on the other side of the city, Shona lay beneath the downy, flower print comforter spread over her bed and rolled over onto her right side. A few minutes later, she sat upright and rearranged her pillow. She was exhausted from the day, yet had been unable to fall asleep. Shona closed her eyes, lay back down and tried to relax, but the intense feeling of excitement that had overtaken her body, refused to release its grip.

As she lay in her bed, thoughts of Rory's extraordinary masculinity and unsurpassed charisma continued to feed the unquenchable desire quickly spreading throughout her body. Shona would sleep very fitfully this night.

If anyone had of entered Rory's hotel room, they would have guessed that he was alone. Munro knew better as Shona was very much with him. Even while he tossed and turned beneath the covers of his bed, she caressed his heart, body and soul. "Shona, I need you, I've always needed you," cried out Rory in the darkness of his room. Visions of her luminous beauty and the touch of her spirit would keep Munro from getting much sleep throughout the night.

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Brigadoon Chapter Six.